I haven't seen any kind of thorough breakdown on lapel "belly" outside of a few mentions of 3/2 rolls and a few offhand comments that lapels should never be creased. I have several 2-button suits I recently bought and all are creased along the lapel roll.

Few questions:

Is there a rule of thumb with respect to flat versus belly? Where one is appropriate and the other is not? Is it a matter of preference? I have seen it said that it is easier to create a flat lapel roll, which makes sense.

Is it possible to create a belly on a jacket lapel that was not designed to curve? I'm not too fond of one of my suit jackets and wouldn't mind experimenting on this kind of thing. The jackets are fully canvased and not fused, if that matters.

I thought that "belly" refers to the cut of the line of the lapel, not the roll. In other words, instead of the outer edge of the lapel (below the notch) being cut on a straight line, it's cut so that it has a slight outward curve.

Lapel 'roll' - if the lapel is pressed hard flat down to the body or has a curved/curl towards the button.
Belly - the actual shape of the lapel, usually cut straight but at some point (70's?) they used to have a bit of curve outwards to them, making the line rounder

as for the question you meant, I believe that even if a suit has been pressed quite hard, a good tailor with steamer that knows what they're doing can breath a bit of life (ie a roll) back into the lapel.

I don't know the technical side, like if all chest pieces are made the same so something flat can be rolled, or if the lapel and chest are separate or whatever. I would imagine that with the right technique, almost anything can be done...

a good tailor with steameran iron that knows what they're doing can breath a bit of life (ie a roll) back into the lapel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimchijajonshim

but what about lapels that have always been pressed flat?

They don't start out pressed flat but some get that way. Fused garments are more limp and won't have much roll-it's the animal hair in the canvas that gives a lot of bloom to the roll. Different grades of canvas means some lapels will have more bloom to the roll than others.

These are three types of canvas, the black stuff on the right is fusible.

They don't start out pressed flat but some get that way. Fused garments are more limp and won't have much roll-it's the animal hair in the canvas that gives a lot of bloom to the roll. Different grades of canvas means some lapels will have more bloom to the roll than others.

These are three types of canvas, the black stuff on the right is fusible.

Thanks Jeffrey. Do you think it's worth trying to iron over w/ damp cloth myself and see what happens? Or would you recommend taking it to an actual tailor? The suits I have are fully canvased so I ASSUME they at least at some point in time had natural roll to them. At the prices I paid for them I can't imagine the canvas is terribly high grade, but I imagine it has to be better than the fused stuff in that photo.

My experience only wearing suits is that once the collar is attached there is little to be done to really change the roll of the lapels. A more dramatic roll has a collar that supports a roll slightly higher than the buttoning point to accentuate it more. Even if lapels are not pressed flat it will only roll to where the collar of the jacket allows.

Thanks Jeffrey. Do you think it's worth trying to iron over w/ damp cloth myself and see what happens?

Use a press cloth and press fairly firmly- there is some fullness in the lapel around the breakpoint which, if you just steam it or not use enough pressure, will likely pucker if it's a worsted suiting. The breakline should be lightly creased about a hand's width from the gorge seam so don't go all the way up to the collar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

My experience only wearing suits is that once the collar is attached there is little to be done to really change the roll of the lapels. A more dramatic roll has a collar that supports a roll slightly higher than the buttoning point to accentuate it more. Even if lapels are not pressed flat it will only roll to where the collar of the jacket allows.

Does this make sense Jeffery?

Well, sort of. The lapel will break according to how the collar is cut, but it doesn't have much of an impact on the quality of the roll ("the quality of lapel roll is not strained- it falleth like a gentle rain upon the wearer's chest"- points to whoever can identify the original)

Well, sort of. The lapel will break according to how the collar is cut, but it doesn't have much of an impact on the quality of the roll ("the quality of lapel roll is not strained- it falleth like a gentle rain upon the wearer's chest"- points to whoever can identify the original)

Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare - "The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven"

Use a press cloth and press fairly firmly- there is some fullness in the lapel around the breakpoint which, if you just steam it or not use enough pressure, will likely pucker if it's a worsted suiting. The breakline should be lightly creased about a hand's width from the gorge seam so don't go all the way up to the collar.

I had to google and forum search a bit to decipher this, let me make sure I understand what you're saying: iron over a press cloth. Breakline/breakpoint refers to where the jacket folds over to form the lapel (i.e. where I currently have a crease and would like a "roll"). Go up the lapel, starting from the bottom fold, but stay a hand's width from the gorge seam (i.e. below the notch where lapel meets collar)?

I read this entire string, and the question remains unanswered. I don't know the answer, so I'm repeating the question, hoping someone who KNOWS the answer will respond.

QUESTION: If I buy a canvassed suit with creased flat lapels, can I take it to a real tailor or professional cleaner who will successfully turn flat lapels into rolled lapels? Can it be done? (And, if you really know the answer, is a special steam buck required or can anyone do it?) Thank you.